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December 22, 2012

The Prairie Thief

by Melissa Wiley
ages: 8+
First sentence: "The Smirches took Louisa in when her Pa went to jail, but they weren't happy about it."
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It's 1882 on the prairie (Kansas, most likely, since it mentions Topeka a few times), and Louisa Brody's Pa has just been carted off to jail because several items belonging to their neighbors (the Smirches of the first sentence) have been found in a dugout belonging to the Brodys. The catch, though: the dugout hasn't been used in years, but no one seems to believe them.

So, it's up to Louisa to get to the bottom of this mystery. One that involves a smallish magical figure who was only pining for his wife who left him.

There's really not much more to this little tale: it's one of those delightfully written fairy stories, but that lacks a lot of substance. Sure, there's the whole family angle: Louisa loves her Pa, and will do anything to keep him from getting hanged. But, more than that? Not really.

That's not to say it's not enjoyable: it is. Louisa's a determined young girl, and the smallish magical figure is sufficiently adorably cranky. I'm going to probably order a couple for the store, because it'll do well here in Wichita, with the Kansas angle.

But is it something that's going to stick with me for a long time? Nope.

(Just for the record: because this is a Cybils nominee, I've been asked
to make sure y'all know this is my opinion only, and
not that of the panel.)

Who is Book Nut?

Voracious reader of Middle Grade and YA fiction/science fiction-fantasy. Sometime reader of adult books and non-fiction, with a soft spot for food and travel. Interested in books with people of color. Has never enjoyed a contemporary crime/thriller novel.

Reviews everything that she picks up: good, the bad and the ugly. Very picky about accepting review copies; as a mother of four, there's only so many reading hours in a day.

Can send any and all requests, comments and complaints to mmfbooks@gmail.com.